Anduril Industries in Talks to Acquire Nissan's Oppama Plant for Military Drone Production in Japan
U.S. defense tech company Anduril Industries is in negotiations to acquire Nissan Motor's Oppama assembly plant near Tokyo, with plans to manufacture military autonomous drones on Japanese soil. Three sources familiar with the matter say no final agreement has been reached, but a deal would mark a major milestone for foreign defense firms establishing large-scale drone manufacturing in Japan.
Highlights
- Anduril Industries is in active negotiations with Nissan Motor to acquire the Oppama assembly plant near Tokyo for military drone manufacturing in Japan.
- Three sources familiar with the matter confirm talks are ongoing, but no final agreement has been reached.
- The Oppama plant, located in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, is one of Nissan's oldest facilities and a symbol of Japan's postwar industrial recovery.
- Japan's increased defense budget and relaxed arms export rules have attracted multiple Western defense contractors to evaluate local manufacturing investments.
- A successful acquisition would mark the first large-scale foreign military drone manufacturing base established on Japanese soil.
Anduril Industries in Talks to Acquire Nissan's Oppama Plant for Military Drone Production in Japan
U.S. defense technology company Anduril Industries is in talks with Nissan Motor to acquire the Oppama assembly plant near Tokyo, with the aim of producing military autonomous drones in Japan, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
The sources stressed that no final decision has been made and negotiations remain ongoing. However, should a deal be concluded, it would give one of Japan's earliest large-scale postwar automotive manufacturing facilities an entirely new strategic purpose — transforming it from a car production base into a hub for advanced military drone manufacturing.
Anduril Moves to Establish Foothold in Japan's Defense Market
Anduril Industries is a prominent U.S. defense technology startup known for developing autonomous weapons systems, including military drones, autonomous underwater vehicles, and AI-powered command-and-control platforms. In recent years, the company has been expanding into overseas markets, seeking to establish localized manufacturing capabilities in allied nations.
Japan has significantly increased its defense budget in recent years and has actively relaxed restrictions on weapons and defense equipment exports, drawing growing interest from Western defense contractors evaluating the feasibility of investing and setting up facilities in the country. If Anduril successfully acquires the Oppama plant, it would represent a landmark moment for foreign defense companies establishing large-scale drone manufacturing operations in Japan.
Nissan Looks to Offload Underutilized Capacity
The Oppama plant, located in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, is one of Nissan's oldest production facilities and an important symbol of Japan's postwar industrial recovery. However, amid structural shifts in the global automotive market and Nissan's ongoing financial difficulties, the plant's capacity utilization rate has been declining steadily, prompting Nissan to evaluate various disposal options.
No official comment has been issued by any party involved, and the final outcome of the negotiations remains to be seen.
This article is based on reporting by Reuters and other media outlets. Some details are pending official confirmation.
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